Hand-coloured, plate-signed pochoir from Falbalas & Fanfreluches (1924) "Evening": This drama is the epitome of the Art Deco spirit, with the mountains in the background symbolically doubling as the Liberated Woman's angelic wings, and with the man kneeling (from behind, no less) in sheer capitulation and adoration. The sculpture to the left is Barbier's nod to the African influence in Art Deco design. Barbier was ever the genius at weaving apparent juxtaposition into a valid social as well as aesthetic commentary. +++++++
This famous illustrated almanac series was produced from 1922 to 1926 only and depicted high-society life in Paris - the fashion, social and artistic capital of the early inter-war years. Each issue contained a small diary and notation section, an introduction by one of the leading social/cultural doyens of the day, a decorative cover and twelve fashion plates (one for each month of the year,) hand-coloured via stencil and watercolour/gouache. +++++++
Further Ref.: "Art Deco Costumes By George Barbier" (Introduction by Madeleine Ginsburg, Curator, V&A Museum, London) +++++++ Approx.image size: h. 6.25in X w. 4.125in; h. 15.9cm X w. 10.5cm; Overall h. 9.75in X w. 6.375in; h. 24.8cm X w. 16.2cm |